What
can you do to safe guard your bike when it is left on its own some. Did you know it can take less than 10 seconds
to steal a locked bicycle? The fact is that what a thief wants, they
can usually find
a way of getting. I know
of one situation where they took the roof off the shed to get to 5 bikes
and a motorbike.
In the open
Good
quality locks are a good idea and a sound investment and we include
information on the subject elsewhere.
Use the lock to secure your bike to something immovable, such
as a lamppost or the many cycle stands now available in town centres.
Securing
two or more bikes together works very well but make sure the owner of the other
bike knows about it! Sounds daft?
I waited two and a half hours for one cyclist to return to release my bike from
his. His friends’ bike was the
opposite side, totally unsecured!
Leaving
your bike within public gaze, rather than down a dark ally where would
be thieves can use cable/bolt cutters, is also a good idea.
Some
cyclists often remove the front wheel and slide their lock through
the wheel and the frame. It’s not unknown for thieves to take
just a wheel or anything else with a quick-release fitting and
sell it.
Therefore consider removing quick release items such as saddles
and computers when leaving your bike unattended.
In storage (sheds or garages)
Still consider using locks.
Securing clamps are also available for fixing your bike to the floor,
wall or ceiling.
Consider
an intruder alarm for the garage or shed, one that makes a very
loud noise,
let’s deafen the b******s, sorry.
Use
three padlocks on your shed door i.e. top, middle, bottom.
Yes it’s more of a hassle to get to your bike but it’s equally
difficult for the thief.
Consider intruder lights in the garden; give them some light to be seen by.
On your car
Many people carry bikes
on car racks and often walk away from them believing their bike is secure.
It could be if the bike is locked to the car rack and the car rack straps
are not too easy to cut. I know
of people returning to their cars to find both car rack and bikes gone.
Personal
note: (I have to admit that since the theft mentioned elsewhere our garden now
has Infra red alarm and lighting. The
shed doors have three high quality padlocks, top, middle and bottom.
The shed doors are fitted with intruder alarms that activate as soon
as the doors open and the bikes are padlocked together inside the shed.
Overkill? Maybe, but we like our bikes and want to keep them.)
This complete section
of our website is sponsored by bikeregister.com.
The first log
book security system for all types of bike.
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